Dorico vs Focusrite Control 2
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Dorico
Create professional music notation and compositions with this powerful app. Easily input notes, edit performances, and share your work in various formats. It's suitable for beginners and professionals alike.
- Compose music notation
- On-screen keyboard, drum pads, fretboard
- MIDI editing tools
- PDF, audio, MusicXML export
- Print to AirPrint
- Read mode with annotation
- Automatic engraving
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Compose your own music for free with Dorico. Create beautiful music notation for up to eight instruments quickly and easily with the on-screen keyboard, drum pads and fretboard. Play back instantly with the included sounds and shape the performance with powerful MIDI editing tools. When your piece is finished, share it as PDF, audio or MusicXML, or print directly to your AirPrint-enabled printer. Perform using the built-in read mode, and annotate with your Apple Pencil. Dorico is the award-winning music notation and composition software from Steinberg for macOS, Windows, and iPadOS. It’s easy enough to learn and use that it is used by students in schools, and deep enough that it satisfies the needs of the most demanding professionals in the worlds of concert music, music for film and TV, and music publishing. Dorico for iPad is fully compatible with Dorico for macOS and Windows, so you can work on your projects on the move on your iPad and in your studio on your desktop or laptop computer, or share projects with musicians using Dorico on any platform. Dorico’s interface is split into four modes. In Setup mode, you can add and change instruments, create and reorder sections of music (called “flows”), and choose how your music will be formatted for your musicians into layouts. In Write mode, you can input and edit music and other notations using simple, well-organized toolboxes and panels. In Engrave mode (included if you buy a paid subscription to Dorico’s advanced features), you can make graphical tweaks to every item in your project. Finally, in Play mode, you have access to powerful sequencer-style MIDI editing tools, including piano roll and velocity editors. Dorico includes built-in virtual instruments and effects to allow you to play back your compositions, and you can also easily use any compatible Audio Unit plug-in or external MIDI device (with optional subscription or Lifetime Unlock in-app purchase), and tweak playback using the on-screen Mixer. Input music using an on-screen piano keyboard, or by connecting a MIDI keyboard to your iPad directly via USB or using a compatible USB-to-Lightning adaptor. If you have a Magic Keyboard or other external keyboard, you can make use of extensive keyboard shortcuts to work quickly and efficiently. Dorico is free to use, allowing you to write for ensembles of up to four players. Register with your free Steinberg ID to increase the player limit to eight, allowing you to write for ensembles like string or wind quartet, or SATB choir. If you want to take your composition and arranging to the next level, you can buy an optional subscription or Lifetime Unlock in-app purchase to access more features and power: write for ensembles of any number of players, and gain access to Engrave mode, allowing you to make graphical tweaks to individual items anywhere in your project. HIGHLIGHTS • Best automatic engraving of any software • Easy note input using on-screen keyboard, MIDI keyboard, or external keyboard • Intelligently adjusts notation as you write • Any number of movements or pieces in a single project • Automatic layout of instrumental parts • Expressive playback using included sounds and effects • Supports Audio Unit virtual instruments and effects processors • Sequencer-style piano roll MIDI editor • Sophisticated chord symbols, unpitched percussion and drum set notation • Unbarred music, tuplets across barlines, etc. all handled correctly — no workarounds • Transfer to and from other apps via MusicXML, MIDI, PDF, etc. For support, please visit www.dorico.com/forum If you like Dorico, please support us by rating this app in the App Store. Thank you!
Focusrite Control 2
This app allows musicians and producers to remotely control their Scarlett 4th Gen audio interface. Adjust input gain, create custom headphone mixes for multiple users, and enjoy wireless freedom within your recording space.
- Wireless remote control
- Adjust input gain
- Create headphone mixes
- Control level, pan, mute, solo
- Multiple device headphone mix control
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TAKE FULL CONTROL Focusrite Control 2 is the perfect companion app for Focusrite interfaces*. Designed for musicians, producers, and audio engineers, this powerful app gives you the freedom to remotely control your Scarlett's inputs and direct monitoring mixes from anywhere within your recording space. You no longer have to stay at your desk — experience the true flexibility and convenience of wireless control. KEY FEATURES: - Seamless wireless pairing: Seamlessly pair the app to Focusrite Control 2 on your desktop computer and enjoy wireless control. Adjust inputs and direct monitoring mixes whilst being free to roam around your recording space. - Set the perfect gain: Control your Scarlett's preamps, including Auto Gain, from wherever you are in your recording space. It’s perfect for recording alone, allowing you to stay in your recording position without needing to move. - Multiple device control: Dial in headphone mixes with ease with control of the level, pan, mute, and solo for each channel. And if you're recording multiple musicians, they each have control of their own headphone mix so they can focus on capturing a great performance. - Advanced monitoring: All your device's monitoring functions are at your fingertips – rapidly switch between monitoring groups and adjust output levels when your device is in a rack or beyond arms reach COMPATIBILITY: - Focusrite Control 2 is compatible with: Scarlett 4th Gen range ISA C8X Scarlett 3rd Gen range Clarett+ range Clarett USB range Scarlett 2nd Gen — 6i6, 18i8, and 18i20 - Make sure the desktop version of Focusrite Control 2 is installed on the computer your Scarlett is plugged in to, and your iPhone or iPad is connected to the same wireless network. - Focusrite Control 2 cannot control your Scarlett when it is connected via USB to your mobile/tablet
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Dorico at 4.6 against Focusrite Control 2's 2.6. Dorico also leads on review sentiment (55% vs 27%) and ratings volume (2.3K vs 28). Focusrite Control 2's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Dorico sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Focusrite Control 2 asks for nothing beyond the download.
Dorico holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dorico has 2.3K ratings behind it against 28, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 55% of Dorico's written reviews are positive against 27% of Focusrite Control 2's.
Dorico ships an update every 3 weeks, Focusrite Control 2 fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Dorico | Focusrite Control 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (2.3K ratings) — better | 2.6 (28 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 55.4% of reviews — better | 27.1% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2.3K — better | 28 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 17 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 975 MB | 20 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH | Focusrite Audio Engineering |
Customer experience
Dorico
Focusrite Control 2
Bugs and requests
Dorico
Reported bugs
5 issues- Crashes when opening or editing projects
- Corrupted/lost files after app crashes
- Unresponsive keyboard and note input issues
- Scrolling and UI glitches, especially in Engrave mode
- Incompatibility with certain iPad models and iOS versions
Requested features
5 requests- Support for Apple Pencil and handwriting input
- Improved file management and organization
- Expanded audio unit/plugin integration
- More customization options for layout and engraving
- Ability to export/import flows and projects between iPad and desktop
Focusrite Control 2
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Dorico
- Dorico Monthly Subscription7 Days trial$5.991 Month
- Dorico Annual Subscription14 Days trial$49.991 Year
- Dorico Lifetime Unlock$119.99
Focusrite Control 2
No in-app purchases









